SOUTHAMPTON'S meeting with Chelsea will be the litmus test in terms of determining whether or not they can finish in the top four claims Saints icon Matt Le Tissier.

The South Coast club have made a flying start to the Premier League campaign under Ronald Koeman, and sit in the unaccustomed position of second in the table.

Despite drawing 1-1 against Aston Villa on Monday, Saints have statistically the best defensive record in the division.

Saints have a daunting set of fixtures, beginning with Manchester City on Sunday (1:30pm).

And Le Tissier believes the home clash against Chelsea on December 28 could go a long way to influencing whether or not Saints can secure a top four spot.

"Saints play Chelsea on 28 December and after that point, they will have a better idea of where they will realistically finish this season," Le Tissier told Express Sport.

"It's a tough run of games up until for them with City, Arsenal and Manchester United to play in the space of eight days.

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Ronald Koeman's Saints face Manchester City next

It will be a massive few weeks in the season for them

Matt Le Tissier

"It will be a massive few weeks in the season for them."

Le Tissier also believes the only real discernible difference between Saints under Koeman and Mauricio Pochettino, is that they are stronger at the back.

He added: "One of the biggest differences would be they are better organised defensively under Ronald [Koeman].

"They have the best defensive record in the Premier League and that has been the biggest plus point in terms of playing good football. It has been an amazing start to the season.

"Maybe the draw against Villa wasn't what people were expecting, but it keeps the unbeaten run going and with the performance they produced on the night, a point wasn't a bad result."

Matt Le Tissier was speaking at the opening of a new third generation (3G) artificial grass pitch (AGP) at The Mountbatten School in Romsey, Hampshire. The project was made possible thanks to a £312,294 grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund. Managed by the Football Foundation on behalf of it’s funding partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government, via Sport England – the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund is a three-year £102m commitment to improving the nation’s grassroots football facilities.